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Comparison of optimizers for model predictive thermal control of buildings

Andersen, Torben LU (2024) In Energy and AI 15.
Abstract
Considering recent developments in the energy sector, further reduction of electricity cost and flattening of the electric power demand curve are needed. We have focused on an autonomous electric heater control system that can easily be implemented in existing buildings without strict comfort requirements. Examples are winter heating of warehouses and vacation homes, and heat drying of buildings under construction. We have set up a system that typically reduces electricity cost by about 40% on the basis of automatic weather and real time pricing forecasts. The system uses the building as an energy reservoir over periods with high electricity cost. Using a model predictive control system, we compare use of a genetic algorithm, a particle... (More)
Considering recent developments in the energy sector, further reduction of electricity cost and flattening of the electric power demand curve are needed. We have focused on an autonomous electric heater control system that can easily be implemented in existing buildings without strict comfort requirements. Examples are winter heating of warehouses and vacation homes, and heat drying of buildings under construction. We have set up a system that typically reduces electricity cost by about 40% on the basis of automatic weather and real time pricing forecasts. The system uses the building as an energy reservoir over periods with high electricity cost. Using a model predictive control system, we compare use of a genetic algorithm, a particle swarm optimization, and a neural network for heater control, all working in a closed loop to reduce the influence of modeling errors. We have simulated the performance of the systems using realistic data and found that all three optimizers give about the same performance, varying only a few percent in efficiency. However, the computational and memory requirements of the neural network are much lower than for the other optimizers, so it is preferable for use with inexpensive microcontrollers. We carried out a full-scale experiment at a residential house and found agreement with simulation results. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Genetic algorithm, Particle swarm optimization, Neural network, Model predictive control, Home energy management
in
Energy and AI
volume
15
article number
100332
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85180994947
ISSN
2666-5468
DOI
10.1016/j.egyai.2023.100332
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
72b40151-6092-4c2f-8767-b3889ac0c072
date added to LUP
2023-12-23 22:48:57
date last changed
2024-02-06 15:39:31
@article{72b40151-6092-4c2f-8767-b3889ac0c072,
  abstract     = {{Considering recent developments in the energy sector, further reduction of electricity cost and flattening of the electric power demand curve are needed. We have focused on an autonomous electric heater control system that can easily be implemented in existing buildings without strict comfort requirements. Examples are winter heating of warehouses and vacation homes, and heat drying of buildings under construction. We have set up a system that typically reduces electricity cost by about 40% on the basis of automatic weather and real time pricing forecasts. The system uses the building as an energy reservoir over periods with high electricity cost. Using a model predictive control system, we compare use of a genetic algorithm, a particle swarm optimization, and a neural network for heater control, all working in a closed loop to reduce the influence of modeling errors. We have simulated the performance of the systems using realistic data and found that all three optimizers give about the same performance, varying only a few percent in efficiency. However, the computational and memory requirements of the neural network are much lower than for the other optimizers, so it is preferable for use with inexpensive microcontrollers. We carried out a full-scale experiment at a residential house and found agreement with simulation results.}},
  author       = {{Andersen, Torben}},
  issn         = {{2666-5468}},
  keywords     = {{Genetic algorithm; Particle swarm optimization; Neural network; Model predictive control; Home energy management}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Energy and AI}},
  title        = {{Comparison of optimizers for model predictive thermal control of buildings}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/169613215/1-s2.0-S2666546823001040-main.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.egyai.2023.100332}},
  volume       = {{15}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}